It's me again. Everything had been going swimmingly. Just had a PET scan and poof - two mets in the right lobe - about 1.7cm or so. They did an ultrasound to see if they could be localized for an ablation but apparently I now have the liver Cherbourg goose and because of the chemo induced steatosis ...

I am currently on Xeloda/Avastin. It is much easier than the FOLFOX that is for sure. For me they started the dose high - 4x500mg twice a day for a week and then an off week. It took about 3 cycles for the hand and foot syndrome (I like to call it hoof and mouth) to get so bad they reduced the dose ...

Well - Scheduled for laparoscopic microwave liver ablation on Monday. The Doc said it will take about 3 hours and I can go home later that day. Has anybody got any words of wisdom on what to expect? I am assuming since its not as big as surgery as the colectomy it will be easier to recover. It also ...

I haven't been very good about checking in here even though this has been a great resource and comfort. For the quick bullet: The biopsy of course confirmed that the liver lesions were CRC. I have been on Xeloda and Avastin since July. Not nearly as bad as FOLFOX but we have had to reduce the dose t...

For what its worth - I would be a strong proponent for a port as well. It made the infusions so much easier and less uncomfortable (and you need all the less uncomfortable as you can get). The procedure to implant it was as easy as pie - I don't think it took longer than thirty minutes or so. It was...

Gina - Thank you for posting about your ‘journey’. My first go round I found it so helpful to get at least an idea what is happening and how to cope. It made it a lot less scary. Having said that - it seems much more complicated when you have a recurrence with liver mets or even just liver involveme...

Right now - I am staying at Texas Oncology in Mid-town Austin. I will wait for the PET scan and see whats in there. If its ‘straight-forward’ (as if anything is) I will probably stay there as we really like team. If its otherwise I will see about getting referred to MD Anderson. I think they may do ...

Thanks juliej! I am just taking it one day at a time. I have too many things to do to just give up... I did ask the Onc will it be irinotecan (don’t some people call it i-ran-to-the-can) and he specifically said that wouldn’t be on the menu at first. With the PET scan you have radio-isotopes and I a...

Well as we say in Texas - poop! I got a call from the oncologist and my scan showed mets to both lobes of my liver and possibly one on a lung. The next step is a PET scan and then a biopsy to confirm that is recurrent CRC. I forgot what protocol he said we would follow - but it something and pill fo...

Pyro -

Its been 'interesting' - my CEA has never budged, pre-surgery, post surgery. post chemo...
Did your liver enzymes show anything?

-Andy

Hi - It's me again.... So everything has been going pretty darn well since I last checked in. Everything has been running 'hot, straight and normal' for almost three years. However, my last set of labs showed slightly elevated liver enzymes. We re-tested and they dropped a bit but were still above n...

Aussie - I had to go read your blog - very 'entertaining' if we can say that about all this :) One of the things I noted was your description of the neuropathy in the feet feeling like wet sox. I have been struggling with how to describe it to people, because for me it is not numbness like when your...

All-righty then... My scan was clear - although the Dr said there were changes in my lungs and liver that are consistent with chemo and nothing to worry about. I think he didnt want me to freak when I read the report. Today I had my Bard Power Port removed. It was done in the surgeons office under l...

Aussie - That sounds 'reasonable' - we have a friend (a very strong willed attorney) She just got finished with her chemo and went to her surgeon. She told him she wanted it out, He flipped through the chart and said 'well I don't see an order for that'. She said 'I want it out' so he took it out :D...

Aussie -

DId he say why? Mine said if the scan is clear its a go. At least I think that what I heard. Even though the port and I have been very close this last six months or so I can say everytime I brush it or see it i can help but get into a bit of a funk